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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verse of the day for August 6th is Psalm 119:160. Each of the first eight verses of Psalm 119 starts with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the next eight verses of Psalm 119 starts with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the next eight verses of Psalm 119 starts with the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This pattern continues for each of the eight-verse sections of Psalm 119. There are twenty-two letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and there are twenty-two eight-verse sections in Psalm 119. Some people refer to the psalms that have such an alphabetical structure as acrostic [uh-CROSS-tick] psalms. Such psalms can also be referred to as abecedarian [ay-bee-see-DEHR-ee-uhn] psalms. Regarding the Hebrew letters associated with each eight-verse section of Psalm 119, before each eight-verse section in some English translations of Psalm 119, there is a section header in the form of the name of the Hebrew letter that begins the first word of each verse of that section. Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Psalm 119:153–160.
Psalm 119:153
Resh [pronounced RESH, written in Hebrew as ר, and making the sound that the consonant r makes; it is the twentieth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and it represents the thinking of the frontal lobe of the brain].
Look upon my affliction and rescue me, for I do not forget Your law.
Note: In Psalm 119, there are various Hebrew words that are used to refer to the Word of God. In that regard, the Hebrew noun that is translated as “law” in this verse is תוֹרָתְ [pronounced toh-RAHT and can be transliterated as towraht]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) That noun is an inflected form of the root word תּוֹרָה [pronounced toh-RAH and can be transliterated as towrah].
Psalm 119:154
Defend my cause and redeem me; revive me / keep me alive according to Your utterance / word / promise.
Note: The Hebrew noun that is translated as “utterance,” “word,” or “promise” in this verse is אִמְרָתְ [pronounced im-RAHT and can be transliterated as 'imraht]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word אִמְרָה [pronounced im-RAH and can be transliterated as 'imrah]. In some contexts, the word 'imrah can be translated as “command.” With regard to reviving / keeping alive, the psalmist recognized that the Word of God has promises related to reviving / keeping alive, and the psalmist either wanted God the Father to revive the psalmist or keep the psalmist alive in accordance with what is promised in the Word of God. In that regard, the translations “utterance,” “word,” and “promise” fit the context of this verse better than does the translation “command.”
Psalm 119:155
Deliverance is far from the wicked, for they have not sought Your statutes.
Note: The deliverance in this verse refers to physical deliverance rather than to eternal salvation. The Hebrew noun that is translated as “statutes” in this verse is חֻקֶּי [pronounced khook-KAY and can be transliterated as chuwqqei]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word חֹק [pronounced KHOHK and can be transliterated as choq].
The reference to wicked people in this verse contrasts with references to the psalmist in surrounding verses. In that regard, the wicked people have not been interested in learning and obeying the Word of God. In contrast, the psalmist has been learning and obeying the Word of God. Because the wicked people have not been interested in learning and obeying the Word of God, those people would not experience physical deliverance from whatever threatened them. In contrast, the psalmist was hopeful that he would be delivered from whatever threatened him.
References to physical deliverance in the Old Testament can serve as teaching illustrations regarding eternal life. In that regard, if a person is never interested in learning about the means by which God the Father makes eternal life available to people, then that person will never receive eternal life. The means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed—by means of believing that God the Son would take the form of the One sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed after the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed and before the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believe after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who was judged for the sins of humanity. Regarding the foregoing, the Hebrew noun translated as “Deliverance” in this verse is יְשׁוּעָה [pronounced yesh-OO-ah and can be transliterated as yeshuw`ah and yeshu`ah and yeshuah], which is an inflected form of the root word יְשׁוּעָה [pronounced yesh-OO-ah and can be transliterated as yeshuw`ah and yeshu`ah and yeshuah]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) The Hebrew word yeshuah can be transliterated into Koine [KOI-nay] Greek as Ἰησοῦς [pronounced ee-ay-SOOS and transliterated as Iēsous]. In that regard, the use of yeshuah foreshadowed the Koine Greek name Iēsous. The correspondence between yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה) and Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς) is listed below.
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English Transliterations of Hebrew Letters |
Pronunciation and Names of Hebrew Letters |
Hebrew Letters |
English Transliterations of Koine Greek Letters |
Koine Greek Letters |
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y |
YOHD |
י |
I |
iota [igh-OH-tuh] |
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e |
ē |
eta [AY-tuh or EE-tuh] |
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sh |
SHEEN |
ש |
s |
sigma [SIG-muh] when used before the end of a word |
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u |
VAHV or WAH |
ו |
ou |
omicron [AHM-ih- krahn or OH-mih- krahn] and upsilon [UHP-suh- lahn or OOP-suh- lahn or YOOP- suh-lahn] |
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[This Hebrew letter, which is used for a guttural sound at the back of the throat, is not transliterated into English.] |
AH-yeen |
עָ |
[This Hebrew letter is not transliterated into Koine Greek.] |
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ah |
HAY |
ה |
s |
sigma [SIG-muh] when used at the end of a word |
Regarding the use of the Koine Greek letter ς [SIG-muh] to transliterate the Hebrew letter ה [HAY], below are examples of such usage. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)
• The letter ς [SIG-muh] is used to transliterate the letter ה [HAY] at the end of אֵלִיָּה (Elijah) to result in Ἠλίας (Elias).
• The letter ς [SIG-muh] is used to transliterate the letter ה [HAY] at the end of יִרְמְיָה (Jeremiah) to result in Ἰερεμίας (Jeremias).
• The letter ς [SIG-muh] is used to transliterate the letter ה [HAY] at the end of זְכַרְיָה (Zechariah) to result in Ζαχαρίας (Zacharias).
The Koine Greek name Iēsous is used in the New Testament to refer to the Lord Jesus Christ. That Koine Greek name is the name from which the English name Jesus is derived. The correspondence between Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς) and Jesus is listed below.
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English Transliterations of Koine Greek Letters |
Koine Greek Letters |
English Letters in the English Translation |
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I |
Ἰ |
J |
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ē |
η |
e |
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s |
σ |
s |
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ou |
οῦ |
u |
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ς |
s |
Psalm 119:156
Great/Many are Your mercies, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One; revive me / keep me alive according to Your judgments/ordinances.
Note: The psalmist recognized that God the Father is merciful in many ways. In this verse, the Hebrew noun that is translated as “judgments” or “ordinances” is מִשְׁפָּטֶי [pronounced meesh-pah-TAY and can be transliterated as mishpatei]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word מִשְׁפָּט [pronounced meesh-PAHT and can be transliterated as mishpat]. The psalmistʼs reference to the judgments/ordinances of God the Father calls attention to God the Fatherʼs justice. In that regard, the psalmist either wanted God the Father to revive the psalmist or keep the psalmist alive in accordance with God the Fatherʼs justice.
Psalm 119:157
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries; I have not turned aside from Your testimonies.
Note: The Hebrew noun that is translated as “testimonies” in this verse is עֵדְותֶי [pronounced ay-deh-voh-TAY and can be transliterated as `eidevotei]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word עֵדוּת [pronounced ay-DOOTH and can be transliterated as `eduwth]. Even though many people opposed the psalmist, the psalmist refrained from turning away from the Word of God.
Psalm 119:158
I have beheld those who deal treacherously/faithlessly/unfaithfully, and I have been nauseated / sickened / disgusted / appalled because they have not kept Your utterance / word / command.
Note: The Hebrew noun that is translated as “utterance,” “word,” or “command” in this verse is אִמְרָתְ [pronounced im-RAHT and can be transliterated as 'imraht]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word אִמְרָה [pronounced im-RAH and can be transliterated as 'imrah]. In some contexts, the word 'imrah can be translated as “promise.” The translations “utterance,” “word,” and “command” fit the context of this verse better than does the translation “promise.” In that regard, keeping the utterance or word or command of God the Father refers to obeying the Word of God.
The psalmist uses a play on words with an instance of 'imraht in verse 154 and an instance of 'imraht in verse 158. In that regard, the psalmist uses 'imraht in verse 154 in a way that can be translated as “utterance,” “word,” or “promise,” whereas the psalmist uses 'imraht in verse 158 in a way that can be translated as “utterance,” “word,” or “command.” Therefore, the psalmist uses 'imraht in verse 154 in order to focus on what God the Father has promised, and the psalmist uses 'imraht in verse 158 in order to focus on what God the Father has commanded. The use of that same word in those two verses ties together a reference to the matter of God the Father promising and a reference to the matter of God the Father commanding. That tying together by means of the use of the word 'imraht in those two verses calls attention to the fact that God the Father has made promises to those who obey the Word of God.
Regarding the phrase I have been nauseated / sickened / disgusted / appalled in this verse, the psalmist indicated that he has righteous indignation towards those who deal treacherously/faithlessly/unfaithfully because those people disobey the Word of God. It is worth noting that rather than the psalmist focusing on what wrongdoings the treacherous/faithless/unfaithful people have done to the psalmist, the psalmist instead focuses on what wrongdoings such people have done with regard to God the Father. In that regard, rather than the psalmist being preoccupied with himself, the psalmist was focused on God the Father.
Righteous indignation is different from sinful anger. One must be careful to refrain from having an attitude of sinful anger when one is trying to have righteous indignation. How can one determine the difference between righteous indignation and sinful anger? This requires alertness with regard to oneʼs old sin nature (OSN). Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human. The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature. It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16. The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies. Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned. All other human beings have been conceived. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature. All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures. Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived. With regard to being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors. The mindset color code describes states of awareness. The mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin. Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs old sin nature. Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.
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Condition White: |
Unaware and unprepared, one is totally oblivious to what is going on. |
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Condition Yellow: |
Relaxed alert—no specific threat is detected, but one is “taking in” surrounding info—the mindset in which one is aware that one might have to deal with danger today. |
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Condition Orange: |
Specific alert—something is not quite right and has oneʼs attention. It might be something having to be dealt with right now. One gets mentally prepared to act, just in case. |
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Condition Red: |
The potential danger of Condition Orange is determined to be a real danger. It is definitely something having to be dealt with right now. One acts immediately. |
If one is being selfish, then the anger is sinful anger. One example of being selfish while being angry is when a person has pride about himself or herself while being angry. If one is unable to determine whether one is being selfish while being angry, one can analyze whether one feels content or discontent. Another way to determine whether one is being selfish while being angry is to analyze whether circumstances beyond oneʼs control are occurring and whether those circumstances are discipline from God the Son. God the Father does the planning, and God the Son carries out the plans of God the Father. If one is uncertain whether one is being selfish while being angry, then one should refrain from being angry about that particular matter about which one is angry. Also, in such a case, one should confess/acknowledge to God the Father that anger in accordance with 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” While a believer might be uncertain about whether or not something that that believer thinks, says, or does is a sin, if that believer confesses/acknowledges to God the Father what that believer thought, said, or did, and if what that believer thought, said, or did was indeed a sin, God the Father will forgive that believer for what that believer confessed/acknowledged to God the Father, and God the Father will forgive that believer for all of those of the believerʼs unconfessed post-salvation sins that are unknown to that believer. The phrase and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness in 1 John 1:9 references God the Father forgiving a believerʼs unconfessed post-salvation sins that are unknown to that believer when that believer confesses/acknowledges to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins.
Psalm 119:159
Look upon / Consider how I have loved Your precepts; revive me / keep me alive, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, according to Your khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love.
Note: In this verse, the Hebrew noun that is translated as “precepts” is פִקּוּדֶי [pronounced feek-koo-DAY and can be transliterated as phiqquwdei]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word פִּקּוּדִים [pronounced peek-KOOD and can be transliterated as piqquwd]. The psalmistʼs reference to the lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love of God the Father calls attention to God the Fatherʼs perfectly benevolent character. In that regard, the psalmist either wanted God the Father to revive the psalmist or keep the psalmist alive in accordance with God the Fatherʼs perfectly benevolent character.
Psalm 119:160
The sum of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments/ordinances is everlasting.
Note: The Hebrew noun that is translated as “Word” in this verse is דְּבָרְ [pronounced deh-VAHR and can be transliterated as Debar or Devar]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word דָּבָר [pronounced dah-VAH and can be transliterated as dabar or davar]. The Hebrew noun that is translated as “judgments” or “ordinances” in this verse is מִשְׁפַּט [pronounced meesh-PAHT and can be transliterated as mishpat]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word מִשְׁפָּט [pronounced meesh-PAHT and can be transliterated as mishpat]. The psalmist recognized that the Word of God continues forever.
Sincerely,
John